Pan Group
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Georgia
 UGA Mark
Riverbend Research South Bldg. 223
220 Riverbend Road
Athens, GA 30602
Tel: (706) 542-4657
Fax: (706) 542-8806

The Art of Nanoscience

“Nano” has been a “buzz” word in general media for about a decade. However, the public opinion about nanotechnology is still in its infancy stage and the knowledge about it is quite superficial and limited. In a recent phone survey of Americans’ perceptions about nanotechnology conducted by Cobb and Macoubrie, 51.8% of the 1536 people interviewed know nothing about nanotechnology, 31.8% hear a little, and only 16.4% hear some or a lot. To educate general public on the movement of nanotechnology, a unique way that can easily catch people’s attention and stir their curiosities is therefore needed. NanoArt, a new art discipline at the intersection of Art, Science and Technology, appears to be a more appealing and effective way to bridge the gap between the educators and the general public.

NanoArt is a new art form where nanostructures created by scientists through chemical or/and physical processes are visualized with powerful research tools like electron microscopes (e.g., SEM). The monochromatic SEM images are processed further using different artistic techniques to create colorful and dynamic artwork that can be showcased for the general public. NanoArt can be present to public by many forms as covers of scientific journals and government publications, illustration in books, newspapers and websites, and exhibits in galleries and museums.

Educate general public with attractive NanoArt has been the PI’s long-time endeavor. The PI’s nano-images have been used as illustrations in many journals, government reports, books, newspapers, flyers, websites and exhibits. By collaboration with others, several Art shows have been held.

NanoArt Exhibits
  • “Art & Science”, Athens Academy, Athens, GA, October - December, 2007 (with Prof. Michael Oliveri and Prof. Yiping Zhao).
  • “Interior Landscapes”, Clayton Street Gallery, Athens, GA, September 16 - October 7, 2007 (with Prof. Michael Oliveri and Prof. Yiping Zhao).
  • “Inner Space”, UGA’s Lamar Dodd School of Art Main Gallery, April 11-May 9, 2008 (with Prof. Michael Oliveri).
  • Exhibit in Chicago Art, Rhona Hoffman Gallery, May 1-4, 2008 (with Prof. Michael Oliveri).
  • Exhibit in Jackson Fine Art, Atlanta, Georgia, in September -October, 2008 (with Prof. Michael Oliveri).
  • Exhibit in the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, Nashville, Tennessee, October 10 - December 28, 2008 (with Prof. Michael Oliveri).

NanoArt Created by Students

  • Zinc oxide nanorod landscapes created by Kajene Murugathasan (a high school student from Athens Academy) and Xufan Li (graduate student)

Educating K-12 Students with NanoArt

  • Twenty 5th grade students from Whit Davis Elementary, Athens, GA, visited lab in October, 2008.

pAN AND mIKE

Michael Oliveri and Zhengwei Pan postured in front of the SEM where the NanoArt was created